American Samoa Scouts Conservation Efforts

Scouts of American Samoa Participate in Effort to Revive Native Plants

Scouts from Troop 287, LDS Leone 2nd Ward, gather in Faga’alu to participate in the
District Service Project of planting native trees

The American Samoa District participated recently in an effort to assist the National Parks office in planting trees that are native to Samoa.

Nearly 200 Scouts from 20 different troops around Tutuila gathered at the Faga’alu Beach Park to receive the trees and return to their respective villages to plant them. In all over 100 saplings were planted throughout the island.

The event also included educational experiences for the Scouts, as they learned the value to protecting native species against potential invasion plants and animals. The Scouts also used the event as a preparation for the upcoming Scout Fiafia in April.

The activity included some Scout competition and Scout skill instruction as well as an overnight campout the evening before each troop was to perform the service. The theme of the event centered around teaching the Scouts environmental awareness.

PBS Leader Training

Youth Protection Training taught to over 200 leaders of PBS


(Above: Hirobo Obeketang teaches Majuro District Leaders Youth Protection Training)

The Boy Scouts of America began a new policy of caring for our youth in May 2010, and in keeping with that policy, the adult leaders within the Pacific Basin have turned out in large numbers to receive this training.

The YPT is a major step forward in an area where protection of youth is not a priority. The training introduced by the BSA is bringing the needs of youth, and their importance to the minds of Scouting and the community.

Island Leaders from Four Nation/States attend Wood Badge and PBS Conference

Scouting in the Pacific Basin reached a major milestone and objective when six Island leaders and one Island Commissioner attended Wood Badge and the PBS Conference in August 2010. These leaders attended the first cluster course of the Aloha Council and helped make up the largest Wood Badge course in the Council’s history.

The leaders that attended included Bell Tosie of Kosrae, Derek Cepeda of Guam, Hirobo Obeketang, Herson Aloka and Martin Baso of the Republic of the Marshall and Islands, Dr. Ernest Oo of American Samoa and Jack Metcalf, Island Commissioner from Houston, Texas.

Along with the Wood Badge course, the PBS leaders received training on Youth Protection, Leave No Trace, Developing Community Partnerships, District Leadership Training Workshop, Trainer Development using the EDGE model and many other focuses. The leaders returned to their home island prepared to share what they have learned with local community leaders and Scouts. From this training, many will benefit.

Growth of Scouting in the Pacific Basin

The Pacific Basin is expanding to serve more youth as new units are established and existing ones are strengthened.

Yap State recently rebuilt a Boy Scout troop with the help of Curtis Villa (pictured above), a Filipino national who is in Yap with his family on a contract with the College of Micronesia.

Kosrae State and American Samoa organized five new units between them, two troops and one Venturing Crew, with the LDS Branches in Kosrae, and a new Cub Scout Pack and Scout Troop with Aua Elementary School in American Samoa.

More new units, serving youth on other islands, are expected this year.

Aloha Council Scout Executive visits American Samoa District

Above: Scouts from Troop 296, LDS Malaeimi Ward, welcome Aloha Council Scout Executive Jeff Woolsey to American Samoa with the traditional ‘ava ceremony

Scout Executive Jeff Woolsey, accompanied by PBS Director John Mills, visited American Samoa to help kick off a year-long celebration leading up to Scouting’s 100 anniversary.

Among the many highlights of the trip was the Scout Fiafia, or celebration, held at the beach in front of the American Samoa Governor’s office building. Approximately 250 Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts attended the event which included a Camporee, Pinewood Derby, and Patrol and Troop competitions of fire by friction (pictured above), coconut husking, basket weaving and tug of war. The competition was fierce as the winners of coconut husking and fire by friction won their events in under one minute.

During the visit six young men were awarded their Eagle Scout ranks. Fomai Amituanai (Troop 357), Peniamina Lesa and Christopher Samia (Troop 355), Taupati Mamea (Troop 191), Eugene Brown (Troop 346) and Mau Malaki Te’o (Troop 295) each were presented their Eagle Award by Jeff Woolsey, Executive Staff member Fiamatai Faitau and their parents.

The visit culminated with a District Recognition Dinner where three Scout leaders received the District Award of Merit and Aki Dameworth, District Training Chair, received her Wood Badge beads.

2008 PBS Summer Camps

Summer Camp programs were held throughout the Pacific this year, with over 1,000 youth attending camps in Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Majuro. Cub Scout Day Camps were also held throughout the islands. The need for Scouting becomes so clear when even girls from the local villages show up for our annual camps and events.

The summer camp experience is used to help build a knowledge of personal culture along with Scouting skills. In place of materials like reed or raffia, Scouts learn to weave with local materials like coconut and pandanus leaves. But many traditional Scouting skills, knot-tying, orientation, first aid, etc. are also taught to the boys. One of the favorites among the islanders is hiking or marching along trails and roadways. As they hike through villages they will sing the Scouting songs they have learned and yell their troop and patrol cheers.

Special thanks must be given to those organizations that contribute many resources to help these camps become a reality; groups like Triple-J Enterprises, Pacific International Inc., Lions Club of Pago Pago, Do It Best Hardware and the various government and private agencies that support our Scouting efforts.